🔧 Focus - Outer Tie Rod End Replacement

This repair replaces the outer tie rod end, which connects the steering rack to the front wheel knuckle. A worn tie rod end can cause clunking, loose steering, uneven tire wear, or poor alignment.

Difficulty Level: Beginner-Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1-2 hours per side

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Focus with jack stands before working under or near the vehicle. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ After replacing a tie rod end, your Focus needs a front wheel alignment. Driving without alignment can quickly damage tires.
• ⚠️ Do not hammer directly on the steering knuckle threads or tie rod threads.
• ⚠️ If the tie rod end stud spins while tightening, use upward pressure with a floor jack under the joint area carefully.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• 19mm lug nut socket
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive ratchet
• Metric wrench set 18mm-24mm
• Adjustable wrench 10-inch
• Needle-nose pliers
• Tie rod end puller (specialty)
• Ball joint separator (specialty)
• Torque wrench 10-150 ft-lbs
• Paint marker
• Tape measure
• Wire brush
• Penetrating oil spray

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Outer tie rod end - Qty: 1 per side
• Outer tie rod end castle nut or prevailing-torque nut - Qty: 1 per side
• Cotter pin - Qty: 1 per side, if supplied with replacement tie rod end
• Alignment service - Qty: 1 after repair

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Focus on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting the vehicle.
• Work on one side at a time so the other side can be used for reference.
• A tie rod end puller is a tool that presses the tapered stud out of the steering knuckle without damaging the boot or threads.
• Mark and count the tie rod turns during removal. This helps keep the alignment close enough to drive slowly to an alignment shop.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Loosen the Front Wheel

• Use a 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen the front lug nuts about half a turn.
• Do not remove the lug nuts yet.
• Tip: Loosen before lifting.

Step 2: Lift and Support your Focus

• Use a floor jack at the front jacking point to raise the vehicle.
• Place jack stands under the proper front support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Keep the floor jack lightly touching as backup support, but do not rely on it alone.

Step 3: Remove the Wheel

• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet to remove the lug nuts.
• Remove the wheel and set it flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.

Step 4: Clean and Mark the Tie Rod Position

• Use a wire brush to clean the exposed threads near the outer tie rod end.
• Spray the jam nut and threads with penetrating oil spray.
• Use a paint marker to mark the position of the outer tie rod end on the inner tie rod threads.
• Use a tape measure to measure from the center of the tie rod end stud to a fixed point on the inner tie rod, if accessible.
• Tip: Photos help during reassembly.

Step 5: Loosen the Jam Nut

• The jam nut is the locking nut that holds the outer tie rod end in position on the threaded inner tie rod.
• Use the correct size metric wrench from 18mm-24mm on the jam nut.
• Use an adjustable wrench 10-inch on the flat area of the outer tie rod end if needed.
• Turn the jam nut loose about 1/4 turn only. Do not move it far from its original position.

Step 6: Remove the Tie Rod End Nut

• Straighten and remove the cotter pin with needle-nose pliers, if your replacement style uses a castle nut and cotter pin.
• Use the correct size metric wrench from 18mm-24mm or socket to remove the tie rod end retaining nut from the steering knuckle.
• If the stud spins, apply light upward pressure under the tie rod end with the floor jack, then loosen the nut again with the wrench.

Step 7: Separate the Tie Rod End from the Steering Knuckle

• Install the tie rod end puller (specialty) over the tie rod end stud and steering knuckle.
• Tighten the puller with the appropriate metric wrench from 18mm-24mm until the stud pops free.
• If using a ball joint separator (specialty), place it between the tie rod end and steering knuckle and press the joint loose.
• Do not strike the threaded stud directly with a hammer.

Step 8: Unscrew the Old Outer Tie Rod End

• Use the paint marker to make a final reference mark across the old tie rod end and threads.
• Turn the old outer tie rod end counterclockwise by hand or with an adjustable wrench 10-inch.
• Count the exact number of turns needed to remove it.
• Write the number down before installing the new part.
• Tip: Count full and half turns.

Step 9: Install the New Outer Tie Rod End

• Thread the new outer tie rod end onto the inner tie rod by hand.
• Use the same number of turns counted during removal.
• Line it up with the paint mark and measurement as closely as possible.
• Keep the jam nut loose for now.

Step 10: Seat the Tie Rod End in the Steering Knuckle

• Insert the new tie rod end stud into the steering knuckle by hand.
• Install the new retaining nut by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench 10-150 ft-lbs with the correct metric socket or wrench adapter to tighten the tie rod end retaining nut.
• Torque to 48 Nm (35 ft-lbs), then tighten an additional 90 degrees if using a new prevailing-torque nut.
• If using a castle nut and cotter pin style, torque to 48 Nm (35 ft-lbs), then tighten slightly more only as needed to align the cotter pin hole. Do not loosen to align.
• Install the new cotter pin with needle-nose pliers, if applicable.

Step 11: Tighten the Jam Nut

• Hold the outer tie rod end steady with an adjustable wrench 10-inch.
• Use the correct size metric wrench from 18mm-24mm to tighten the jam nut against the outer tie rod end.
• Torque to 63 Nm (46 ft-lbs) if your torque wrench and wrench adapter can access it.
• If access is limited, tighten it firmly while holding the tie rod end so the adjustment does not move.

Step 12: Reinstall the Wheel

• Place the wheel back on the hub.
• Start all lug nuts by hand.
• Use the 19mm lug nut socket and 1/2-inch drive ratchet to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.

Step 13: Lower the Vehicle and Torque the Lug Nuts

• Use the floor jack to lift the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower your Focus to the ground.
• Use the torque wrench 10-150 ft-lbs and 19mm lug nut socket to tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

---

✅ After Repair

• Turn the steering wheel slowly from left to right while parked and listen for binding or popping.
• Check that the steering wheel is close to centered before driving.
• Drive slowly at first. If the steering pulls badly or the wheel is far off-center, stop and recheck the tie rod position.
• Schedule a professional front wheel alignment as soon as possible.
• After 25-50 miles, visually recheck the tie rod end nut, jam nut, and wheel lug nuts.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $180-$350 per side before alignment

DIY Cost: $25-$90 per side in parts

You Save: $120-$260 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.8-1.2 hours per side.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.